Mazda RX-7 - Break-In Procedure; Rear Suspension Checks, Adjustments and Maintenance

CHASSIS/STEERI
NG
AN D
SUSPENSION
(3)
Toe-in.
One turn of the
tie rod
will
change
the
toe-in
by
approxi-
mately
5 mm.
2.
Shock absorber.
The shock
absorber
has
an
eight-
position
adjustment;
the higher
the number,
the
more
stiffness
and control.
The
shock
absorber
should
be
adjusted
to
suit indivi-
dual
preferences.
(2)
Checking
the
shock
absorb-
ers.
Set both right
and left
sides
to
the
same
position.
Compare
stiffness,
both
on
bounce
and
rebound.
Also,
check
for
bent
piston
rods.
3.
Front
anti-roll
bar.
There
are
four
holes
in the
ends
of the
anti-roll
bar
to allow
chas-
sis tuning
to
suit
preferences
or
course characteristics.
Hole
#2 is
the
standard
setting
and should
be
used
as the
base-
line
for
chassis
adjustment
and
tuning.
4.
Check the
rod
end
joints
through-
out the front
suspension
for
wear
or cracking
on the
threaded
por-
tions.
5. Lubrication.
Molybdenum
disulfide
(MoSz)
is
recommended
for
chassis lubri-
cation on
any
appropriate
joints.
D. Rearsuspension.
1.
Shock
absorber.
(1)
Attaching
the
adjusting
diat.
a) Turn
the
adjusting
shaft
counterclockwise
all
the
way
to
the
end
of
its
travel.
b)
On the
adjusting
dial, turn
the
pointer
to
position
No.1.
c)
Set
the
adjusting
dial
on
the
shock
absorber
and
ro-
tate
it,
stoppirrg
when
it
makes
a
click-like
sound.
Then lock
the
adjusting
dial
in
place
with
the
locknut.
These
steps
are
shown
in
the
illustration.
(2)
There
are
eight
adjustments
on the
shock
absorbers.
The
higher
the
number,
the
firmer
the
shock
absorber
will
be.
The
shocks
should
be
adjust-
ed to
suit individual
prefer-
ences
and
characteristics
of
the
course.
(3)
Checking
the
shock
absorb-
ers.
Set both
left
and right
sides
to
the
same
setting,
then
com-
pare
stiffness
on both
bounce
and
rebound.
Finally,
be
sure
there
are no
bent
piston
rods.
2.
Upper link.
Tighten
the
upper
tink
with
the
car
on the
ground
for
proper
align-
ment
and loading.
E. Break-in procedure.
1.
New front hub
bearings
should
be
broken-in
for
at least
50 km
(30
mi).
After initial
break-in,
check
the
preload
on the hub
bearing.
lt is
important
that it
be
0.6-1.2 kg
at
the wheel
clip
bolt.
lf the
entire
suspension
has
been
rebuilt
with new
parts,
the
system
must
be broken-in
for
a total
of
200 km
(120
mi)
as follows:
100
km
(60
mi)
at 30
percent
futl
load,
then:
100 km
(60
mi)
at
B0
percent
futl
load.
After break-in,
retighten
the
entire
suspension
system.
2.
3.
Spring rates
(kg/mm)
No.1
No.2
No.3
No.4
2.92
2.79
2.65
2.53
45